Pipe bowl turning machine



Feb. 8, 1949. J. L, RETTKE ET AL 2,461,443

' PIPE' Bowl. TURNING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1944 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTroRA/FKS.

Feb. 8, w49. y.1. L. RETTKE ET AL 2,461,443

Y PIPE BowL 4TURNING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1949.

Filed Oct. 6, 1944 J. L. RETTKE ET Al.

PIPE BOWLl TURNING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WW @n 14.

Patented Feb. 8, 1949 HT El) S TAT E S 'rsN'r ortica PIPE BOWL TURNING MACHINE Missouri Application October 6, 1944, Serial No.`557;509

8 Claims.

1 The 'present invention relates generally to a novel machine for turning the bowls `of tobacco pipes, particularly, though not exclusively, 'the 'bowls oi the well-known corn-cob variety.

`skilled artisan is able to Vperform the turning operation by dexterous manipulation of a chisel. Following this manual turning operation, the exterior of the bowl is sanded, also by hand. There are subsequent operations, but these are not within the purview ci this invention.

The disadvantages of manual turning as com-- pared to the rhythmic output 'of the machine illustrated and to be described are numerous.

Separate handling, for instance, is -at present re- -quired to complete the turning and sanding operations manually; whereas, in the use of the invention, such handlingr is obviated.

Further, regardless of the skill of the artisan. the individual units of a quantity of hand-turned bowls ffrequently vary in shape, and thus also in weight. Although this has not been found critical, yet the uniformity of the bowls produced by the present machine leaves `nothing to be desired.

Again, the manual turning and sanding operations are tedious, and the skill required, particularly to perform the turning, is acquired only `after .yearsof diligent application- It should be borne in mind in this connection that the external .contour pattern of the bowls is greatly diversiiied.

In using the machine of this invention, a rotary cutter is employed whose blades insure a uniform output, each unit oi which is shaped exactly Yas its predecessor and according to a selected pattern. Should a diiTerent bowl configuration be desired, itis only necessary to insert a corresponding set ofblades in the cutter.

It is, therefore, `an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages mentioned, and also to .provide a machine whose attendant need but place the bored corn-cob cylinder-on one of a circular series of spindles or -arbors carried by a constantly rotating disc ldiiven at a comparatively f slow.rate of speed, as willhe explained.

A further object ofthe invention is the kprovision of means whereby` the loading operation just described is the only one required of .an attendant. A positive bowl-turning,,cutter-as 'sembly is provided. A novel sanding or bowlexterior smoothing assemblage is incorporated'in vthe machine. 'Means are provided for V'automatically removing the ultimate bowl from its supporting spindle, Vso that the spindle may again receive a'raw corn-cob cylinder inits orbit 'toward "the cutter.

Other objects and features of the inventlomlf not specically designated, will be apparent from the description to follow, 'reference "being had to the 'three accompanying sheets of drawings, which portray a preferred structure.

lIn said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 are,'respectively, a front and a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is :a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 44 in Fig. 1, illustrating the means for rotating a plurality vof spindles simultaneously;

Fig. -5 is a -fragmentary Vertical sectional View on an'enlarged scale through the-sanding or burnishing assembly, taken substantially on line 5-5 in Fig. l;

Fig. 6 isa verticalfsectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 6 6 in Fig.f5;

Fig. 7 is a similar View on line `'l-1 in Fig. 2, and includes a diagrammatic broken Vline showing of certain operations;

Fig. 8 is'ian enlarged elevational View partlyin section of a portion of the Vmachin-e. The vline 3-8 in Fig. 1 'approximately indicates the location -of the parts included;

Fig. 9 is al detail Aview of a structure which cooperates with the rotary cutter;

Fig. 410 is a vertical vsectional view taken on line lil-l in Fig. 9;

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary view partly in vsection .particularly illustrating the mechanism -for removing each inished bowl from its supporting arbor. The line Il-H in Fig. v2, and in Fig. l3, indicates approximately where the view is taken.; v ig. 12 isa sectional View on line |2-I2in Fig. 11;

Fig. V13 portrays agear provided with-a circular series of cams or lobes on one of its faces;

Fig. 14 is a sectional represenation of a raw corn-cob cylinder as -it .appears when fed into lthe machine; and

Fig. 15.is asimilar representation of thenished product as it appears when ejected `from .the machine.

`A v horizontally -disposed framework .generally -`indicated .A'ismoun-tedon a suitable base-B,

55 which may comprisea ,pairofstandards adapted gear. 25.

to be fastened to a foundation. The standards may be connected by cross members b to forni a unitary structure, and a number of brace members a are provided to support the overhanging portions of the framework A, as illustrated. Thus, a. rigid foundation is provided, minimizing vibration. Y v

An electric motor M, mounted on the framework A, has a sheave fixed to each projecting end of its shaft. The rst of these sheaves, designated lli, drives by means of a belt l1 a relatively large pulley i8 whose shaft is mounted in bearings I5 fixed to the frame. Adjacent` the pulley i8, said shaft has a pinion 2B in mesh with a large gear 2l of a speed reduction train which includes pinion 22 in mesh with gear 23 Whose shaft carries a pinion 24 in mesh with a final gear 25.

As a result of this arrangement, the gear 25 rotates relatively slowly, whereas the gear 23 ro tates rather rapidly, although at a greatly reduced rate of speed compared to that of the motor M.

The gear 25 is fixed to a shaft .2S supported in suitable bearings 2 mounted on the framework, as best seen in Fig. 1. Fixed to said shaft intermediate said bearings is a rotary disc 28 Whose rotative speed obviously corresponds to that of A circular series of rotatable spindles or arbore. generally indicated 2.9, is carried by said disc, These spindles are adapted to be driv en at a high rate of speed whenever the pulleys 3G iiXed to each of them is engaged by the belt 3l, in turn driven directly by the second sheave 32 fixed to the shaft of the motor M.

The manner in which the spindles 29 are mounted on the disc 2S is clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. Since a high speed of rotation is de sirable, anti-friction bearings 33 are provided, and, as shown. end play elimination is obtained by proper positioning of the pulley 30.

Each spindle 29 is composed of two parts united by a set-screw 36. The .iournaled cornponent 35 thereof has an enlarged head portion 3G whose tapered socket 31 receives the corra spondingly tapered extremity 38 or" the second part 39. whose coniiguration is especially important, as will be exnlained. The number of spindle assemblies may vary. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated. eight are shown. five of which are driven at a high rate of speed by belt 3L while the remaining threel may idle during each cycle.

Attention is directed to Figs. 2 and 4. for a comnrehensive understanding ofthe manner in which this feature is achieved. It is noted that the unner stretch of belt 3! engages the pulley Sil of that snindle assembly 29 directly above the shaft 26. Subseouently. it engages the nulleys of four more spindles. but. having now become the .lower stretch of said belt. contact with the three remaininq spindle pulleys is prevented by means now to be described.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. an arm in carrving an idler pulley di near its free end is nivotally secured. to the frame as at A2. A. support 3. secured as shown to the frame and to the base. has fixed thereto an angular bracket M which slidablv sunports a vertical rod d5. The unper end of said -rod is connected to arm Ml. The lower end carries an adiustable seat 45 for a coil sorinell'i which surrounds the rod and. is interoosed between said seat and the'extension lil` of the bracket through which the rod passes. The idler 4i engages the lower stretch of belt 3|, which, under the action of spring el, is thus kept taut at all times and clear of suceeeding spindle pulleys t as they arrive at the ejection station of the cycle, indicated .r in Figs. 4 and 1l.

The rotary cutter ed incorporated in the machine is independently driven by a motor m, by nieans of the belt and pulley drive 56. The shaft 5i, which carries the cutter, is mounted in suitable bearings 52 rigidly fixed to a horizontal base plate 53 to which the motor is also secured. The plate 53 is supported on and horizontally slidablc on a base Sli. Y The entire cutter assembly may thus be positioned toward or away from the center of the machine by means of a threaded ad justing screw arrangement generally indicated When the proper setting is had, plate 53 is fixed to base 5e by means of a set-screw 56, or the like. The base 54 may be adjusted transversely oi the machine by means of a similar screw arrangement generally indicated 51, and its position made permanent by means of a setscrew, or the like, 53.

The cutter 49 is of conventional construction and is adapted for the reception and retention of blades which may have a variety of contoured cutting edges. It is noted, however, that in carrying out the present invention a circular saw 59 is interposed between the body lof the cutter and an enlarged portion 5D of the shaft 5|. A similar saw Si of a smaller diameter is also clamped between the body of the cutter and a nut $2 threaded on the adjacent extremity of said shaft. The manner of removal and replacement or" the cutter and the saws is considered obvious.

Particularly in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, an arrangement for cooperation with the cutter is por trayed. The structure includes a channelshaped 'up-right rne-rnber 63 having a base ilange te which is bolted, or otherwise secured, as at to a portion of bearing 2l'. Rigidly secured to the uil-right 53 is a laterally extending arm E5 apertured as at 55. An elongated plate 6? passing through aligned recesses Si? formed in the upright G3 isY held in position by means of a bolt 69 and a nut lll. For reasons to be explained later, this is a loose connection (see 8). The plate Bl is nrovided with a countersunk opening 'il adapted to loosely receive the heed 'l2 of a bolt 13 whose opposite end passes through the aperture S5 of arm $5. A coil spring la. surrounding the bolt 13, is interposed between the plate 6'! and the arm 55. The end of bolt i3 threaded so that the spring tension may be adiusted by means of a pair of nuts 15. It should be noted that the diameter of the hole E5 in the arm 55 is considerably larger than that of said bolt.

With particular reference to Figs. 5 and 6', a novel sanding or burnishine arrangement will now be described. Supported by brackets 76. secured as shown to the cross members b of the base. is an arcuately formed plate Tl. Hingedly connected as at .18 to this plate is a similar mem bei' le nrovided with a boss 8B into which is threaded one end of a pin 8l which passes through a hole 32 in the member Tl. A spring 52 surrounds the nin and is internosed between the members 11 and 79, thereby maintaining there in spaced relation. The end of the pin 8| protecting beyond the hole B2 is also provided with threads. for the reception of a nut 8f. Bv

-rneans of thi mit( the tension ci the spring B3 may be regulated.

'The burnishing arrangement proper consists moana.

of three super-imposed layers ot material'. The lowermost of these, that is, the layer 85. adjacent the plate 1S, is of leather; Its upper surface, as best seen in Fig. 6, is slightly concave. The intermediate layer 862' is of' soft rubber or similar material, while the top or upper layer 81' is sandpaper. This sandpaper is provided with slits 8S at intervals throughout its length.

The mechanism for ejecting the finished bowlV is illustrated, `particularlyin- Figs. 11, 12v and i 13. Ain intermittently reciprocated horizontal bar 89 isy slidably supported in brackets 90` secured to an adjacent portion of the base B. A roller 9i, mounted in one end of the bar, is alternately in contact with one of 'a circular series of' cam lobes or protuberances 92 formed on the gear 23, and' the face of said gear between the cams, as the gear revolves. Such contact is maintained by the interposition of a spiral spring 93 surrounding the bar, between one of the brackets 5G and a pin 9d xed in one of a number of holes 95 provided therefor in the bar.

The opposite end of the bar terminates in an upstanding extension 89 to` which is welded or otherwise secured an arcuately shaped pusher member 95.

Operation The rotative direction of the principal revolving elements of the machine will be described :n

from the attendants viewpoint, that is, as seen in Fig. 2. Assuming that both motors are in operation, pulleys I6 and 32 and belts il and 3l turn counterclockwise, as do certain of the spindles 29, pulley and belt 5!) and the cutter and its associated circular saws. The spindles, directly driven, revolve at a high rate of speed. The cutter and associated -circular saws, independently driven by the motor m, rotate at an extremely high velocity. The spindle carrying disc 28 revolves at a moderate rate, due to the speed reduction train of gearing by means of which the motive power from prime mover M ishead 33' of a size to eiTect a press-nt in the resilient tapered bore ofthe cylinder C.

IThe loading station in the cycle is indicated at Y in Figs. 2 and 4, at which point the spindle there is inert, since its pulley 30 is out of contact with belt 3l, as is obvious. Thus it is a simple matter for the attendant to press a cylinder C onto the head 39' of the spindle while the disc 28 is slowly revolving.

The pulley ofv that spindle shortly cornes into contact with the upper stretch of the constantly driven belt 3i, whereby said spindle begins to rotate rapidly, and continues to do so as it takes the revolving cylinder C through the cutter mechanism. Y

The blades of the cutter 49, their edges shaped in accordance with a predeterrnined pattern. now quickly transform the exterior of the cylinder C into the desired configuration, the circular saws 5S and 6|' Simultaneously trimming its ends.

In this regard. attention is again directed to Fig. 7, whereinzthis particular operation is diagrammatically illustrated in broken alines, and wherein the resulta-nt pipe bowl 'is indicated PIB.`v The original -raw cylinder .Cis outlined by'dot and dash lines. Attention is also vdirected to the annular channel 39 formed n the periphery of' the spindle component 39 to accommodate the end trimming saw 6l. Saw 59, of greater diameter, extends at least to or slightly 10651012111V the center line of said cylinder whose adjacent end unsupported.

in order to steady the leading revolving lun-v supported end of the bowl PB as it leaves the1 cutter mechanism (at which stage, inciden-tally'r the saw 5d is` completing its work), and, in order to guard against looseness of iit between the head and the bore of the bowl PB at this stager the structure illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is; employed'.

Thus, as the bowl PB travels beyond the cutter mechanism, its unsupported and now smoothly' trimmed end rides for a time along the smooth` .face ci the plate 6l. During this interval ther bowl is subjected to a gradually increasing pres-- sure by the action of the spring 74. The latter` yieid-ingly forces plate 6l against the end of the bowl and, consequently, reestablishes a. press-t connection between its bore and the spindle head B whenever a loose t develops following the cutting and trimming operations.

sequentially, the rapidly rotating bowl PB is broughtV into contact with the burnishing equipment, shown to best advantage in Figs. 5 and. 6.

While the turning of an ultimate barrel-shaped bowl is disclosed inthe drawings, it has been` pointed out heretofore that a Variety of external contours may be formed in the machine by the instailation of sets of different cutter blades. No change, however, is thereby required in the bur fi nishing equipment, which is so designed as toadapt itself most expediently to the various bowli` 4contours subjected to its action.

To this end the member 'I9 which carries theburnishing equipment is hingedly mounted as; described at 18, and is resiliently supported and. kept in yielding contact with successive bowls by means of spring 83. Upward movement of.' the arm 19 is, of course, limited by the adjustable nut 84, the latter also being the means'- whereby the proper position of member 'l re1ative the rotating bowl may be attained.

The bowl-contacting element consists of the:l

sandpaper El, whose inherent flexibility is increased by the plurality of relatively short slits' 25s formed at intervals therein. The layer of soft rubber S5 beneath said sandpaper adds resiliency. The ccncavity in the upper surface of the leather layer 85 affords a non-rigid backing for the two previously vmentioned layers. The composite arrangement obviously is at once inherently adaptable to a great variety of bowl shapes. f

y Following the sanding operation, the ultimate or finished pipe bowl, shown in Fig. l5 land designated FFB, arrives at the ejection station at which point, as should be understood from an earlier `description of Figs. l1, 12 and 13, it is discharged. from the maschine into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The intermittent horizontal reciprccations of. the bar 8i! obviously follow one another in rapid succession due to the circular series of closely spaced cams 92 on the which latter rotates at a speed greater than that of the spindle carrying disc 28. The pusher member S5 is so formed that should one forward reciprocation of the bar 89 fail to dislodge the bowl. the succeeding reciprocatiouv thereof cannot fail lto do so.

From the above it should be apparentthat the machine attains its objects in ahighly efficient manner. While the embodiment illustrated'and described pertains to turning pipe bowls of the corn-cob variety, ie invention may also'be successfully used in the production 4of wooden bowls of the hickory type of pipes.

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe bowl turning machine including a motor, a rotary disc driven thereby through an interposed train oi speed reduction gearing, a circular series of rotatable spindles journaled on the disc, means for driving a selected number of said spindles at a high velocity, said means including a beltI engageable with pulleys rigid with said spindles, mechanism adapted to maintain said belt taut and simultaneously clear of the pulley of each spindle upon reaching a particular point, rotary cutter mechanism including a pair of spaced circular saws independently driven at a high rate of speed by a second motor, means whereby the cutter mechanism together with its source of power may be properly positioned relative to said spindles, pivotally mounted and resiliently supported burnishing apparatus, means for adjusting its position -relative to said spindles,l

and mechanism activated by cams formed on one gear of said speed reduction gearing adapted to eject the finished bowls from the machine.

2. A pipe bowl turning machine including a. base and a horizontally disposed framework supported thereon, a primary motor and a rotary vertically disposed disc Whose horizontal shaft is supported in bearings on the framework, speed reduction gearing for transmitting power from said motor to said disc, a circular series of spaced horizontally disposed spindles journaled in bearings near the periphery of the rotary disc, a sheave fixed to one extremity or each spindle, a belt continuously driven at a high rate of speed by said motor engagea'ole with certain of said spindles but not engageable with all of them, a rotary cutter and cylindrical saw unit including a second motor to drive said cutter and saw at a high velocity, a yieldable pressure plate supported on a standard secured to said framework, an adjustable resiliently supported and hingedly mounted bowl burnishing structure, and a cam actuated mechanism intermittently reciprocable and adapted to effect the discharge of the ultimate bowl from the machine.

3; In a machine for turning the bowls of tobacco pipes, a base, a rotary member supported on the base and provided with an annular series of spmdles each adapted to have a previously bored corn-cob cylinder removably mounted thereon, motor driven means for rotating the spindles rapidly, motor driven means for rotating the spindle supporting member, a combined cutter and trimmer assembly independently driven and adapted to shape the exterior contour of the cob cylinders and simultaneously trim the ends thereof, a yieldably mounted pressure plate adapted to engage the unsupported end of the shaped cylinders as each of them passes from the cutter assembly, resiliently mounted burnishing apparatus adjustably positioned relative the rotating periphery of the shaped cob cylinder, means whereby the said spindle rotating means maintained clear of each successive spindle after it passes beyond the burnishing apparatus, and an intermittently reciprocable, horizontally mounted pusher bar adapted to engage one end of a shaped and burnished cob cylinder to remove it from the spindle and discharge it from the machine.

4. In a machine for turning the bowls of tobacco pipes, a base, a rotary member supported on the base and provided with an annular series of spindles each adapted to have a previously bored corn-ccb cylinder removably mounted thereon, motor driven means for rotating the spindles rapidly, motor driven means for rotating the spindle supporting member, a combined cutter and trimmer' assembly independently driven and adapted to shape the exterior contour of the cobv cylinders and simultaneously trim the ends thereof, a yieldably mounted pressure plate adapted to engage the unsupported ends of the shaped cylinders as each of them passes from the cutter assembly, and means for burnishing the shaped cylinders comprising an arcuately formed plate pivotally mounted at one end to a similar member rigidly secured to the base, a pin and spring arrangement to resiliently support the free end of the mst-named plate, a layer of leather coextensive with said plate and whose upper surtace is slightly concave suitably secured thereto, a layer of resilient material superimposed upon and co-extensive with the leather, and a layer of sandpaper superimposed upon the resilient layer, the sandpaper being provided with a series of longitudinal slits at spaced intervals throughout its length.

5. A pipe-bowl turningmachine including a base and a horizontally disposed framework supported thereon, a primary motor and a rotary vertically disposed disc whose horizontal shaft is supported in bearings on the framework, speed reduction gearing for transmitting power from said motor to said disc, a circular series of spaced horizontally disposed spindles journaled in bearings near the periphery of the rotary disc, a sheave fixed to one extremity of each spindle, a belt continuously driven at a, high rate of speed by said motor engageable with certain of said spindles but not engageable with all of them, a rotary cutter and cylindrical saw unit including a second motor to drive said cutter and saw at a high velocity, a yieldable pressure plate supported on a standard secured to said framework, an adjustable resiliently supported and hingedly mounted bowl burnishing structure, and means for effecting the discharge from the machine of the finished bowl, Said means comprising a horizontally disposed bar slidably mounted in brackets secured to the base, an arcuately shaped pusher member rigid with an upward extension formed on one end of said bar, a roller journaled in the other end thereof, a compression Vspring surrounding the bar and interposed between one of said brackets and a pin carried by said arm, and a circular series of spaced cams formed on the face of one gear included in said speed reduction gearing to intermittently reciprocate the bar and thereby remove the nished bowl from each successive spindle passing the discharge point.

6. In a machine of the `class described, in combination, a frame, a table supported for rotation vertically of said frame, a spaced annular series of work supporting spindles journaled in said table adjacent to the periphery thereof and on axes parallel with the axis of rotation of said table, means for rotating said table, independent means for rotating said spindles during a segment of the circle of travel of said table, a rotary cutter disposed for engagement with workpieces on said spindles while the spindles are being rotated, a yieldably mounted pressure plate mounted for contact by the free ends of workpieces as they leave the cutter, and a sanding device having a yieldable working surface disposed adjacent said table to burnish the workpieces successively as they are advanced from said cutter.

7. In a maschine of the class described, in combination, a frame, a rotary table journaled in said frame, a spaced annular series of spindles positioned normal to the face of said table, a work supporting member carried by each of said spindles adapted to frictionally engage a hollow circular workpiece, means for driving said spindles during a predetermined arc of movement in each cycle of rotation of said table, a rotary cutter supported by said machine frame in cooperative relationship with the workpieces to form the periphery thereof successively, spaced circular saws associated with said cutter device to trim the ends of said circular workpieces successively, a yields-bly mounted member for engaging the free ends of Workpieces as they leave the cutter and saws, and a burnishing device for nishing said workpieces after they have been cut.

8. In a machine of the class described, in conibination, a frame, a table supported for rotation vertically of said frame, a spaced annular series of work supporting spindles journaled in said table adjacent to the periphery thereof and on axes parallel With the axis of rotation of said table, means for rotating said table, independent means for rotating said spindles during a segment of the circle of travel of said table, a rotary cu*- ter disposed for engagement with Workpieces on said spindles while the spindles are being rotated, a yieldably mounted pressure plate mounted for contact by the free ends'of workpeces as they leave the cutter, a sanding device having a yieldable working surface disposed adjacent said table to burnish the `workpieces successively as they are advanced from said rcutter, and means for automatically eiecting workpieces after leaving said sanding device.

JULIUS L. RETTKE'. EDMUND H. OTTO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

